CHENNAI: The number of MBBS seats open for the first phase of counselling has seen a decline this year, thanks to the delay in the Medical Council of India’s (MCI) approval of seats in a few government medical colleges in the State. These seats are expected to be approved in the second phase of the counselling.
“A total of 175 seats are awaiting approval by the MCI, which includes 100 seats in the Government Thiruvarur Medical College, 50 seats in the Government Medical College in Tiruchy and 25 in Salem. Once approved, around 15 per cent of these seats will be given for the All India Quota and the rest filled during the second phase of the counselling which will be held in the second week of July,” said RG Sukumar, secretary of the Selection Committee for Medical Education.
With the delay, the number of medical seats for 2014 in the first phase of counselling stands at 2,023, as against 2,172 last year in the first phase of the counselling. Out of the 2,023 seats, 1,979 were available for general counselling on Wednesday after 42 seats were filled under the disabled, ex-servicemen’s children and sports quotas. Of the 1,979 MBBS seats in government colleges, 624 are in open category, 521 under Backward Classes category, 67 under Backward Classes (Muslim), 394 under Most Backward Classes, 296 under Scheduled Castes, 57 under Scheduled Castes Arunthathiyars and 20 under Scheduled Tribes.
Apart from this, there are 84 seats in the dental category.
Top ranker gives MMC the slip
The general medical counselling that began on Wednesday saw a slight break in tradition. While year after year, it was the Madras Medical College (MMC) that bagged all the top rank holders, this year, the candidate, who was the fifth rank holder, opted for the Coimbatore Medical College. E Sruti, from Coimbatore, scored centums in all her medical subjects, to reach the top rank 5 category. A student of a Namakkal school, Sruti stuck to her hometown when it came to the choice of college. “I am from Coimbatore, so I thought I’d go with the Coimbatore Medical College,” she said. Health Minister Dr C Vijaya Bhaskar gave away admission letters to all the top 10 rank holders.